Utility Trailer for Subcompact Tractor

[Torvy]

Me too because I already had it from the early 1960’s

Single Axle with 10’ rails fit my BX23 perfect.

I wish I could find the pictures of this same trailer hauling Shelby Cobras and GT40’s back in the day…

Shelby is buried a few miles from here.

 

[ultrarunner]

I guess I’m the only one that has towed several thousand miles my BX23 TLB on 10’ rail trailer?

The bucket sits nicely and secure on the tongue A frame and the backhoe is pinned both vertical and side to side.

I also have a 16’ enclosed trailer plus my 18’ 12k PJ dove tail…

I chose the smaller trailer so as to not haul another ton of trailer and inflict wheel scrub on the tandem trailer axles…

The PJ handles my JD 350C dozer with ease.

Also have a box trailer from my Craftsman Mower and. Dump Trailer that hauled the Kubota RTV900…

Can’t have to many trailers!

 

[ultrarunner]

Shelby is buried a few miles from here.

Trailers for sports cars and SCCA of the 50’s and 60’s were light and strong purpose built and pickups were often not the tow vehicle of choice… it was the high hp wagons.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Can’t have to many trailers!

I'm definitely not arguing that.

Yet I've sold more of them in the past few years than I have bought. And it doesn't bother me if the trailer is larger/more capable than it needs to be. Sometimes it's just right, even if the load weighs way less than what the trailer can support.

 

[paulsharvey]

Just to clarify, the OP is wanting:
to tow a 2000# package
and spend like $2000, but able to go to maybe $3000

Although a 7x18, 9990# trailer is a good trailer, it in no way is a good match for his specific case. That trailer will weigh twice his package weight... And it becomes a burden as a general, light, Utility trailer, with his jeep.

While this trailer would "technically" work, although over budget; i dont like the safety margin... I'm also not a fan of aluminum trailers; too hard to repair; but for people in a salt environment, they might be great.

Steel, min width, 6', but I would prefer 6'4", just because; min 14', but 16' is better; 2 front tie downs, 2 rear tie downs; mesh ramp-gate; the ability to remove/lay forward/flat is nice; 2 axles, 3500# each, with atleast 1 set of brakes. Believe it or not, a wood deck is easier to load/unload/walk on, then metal, and should be cheaper, normal, 15 or maybe 16" wheels, painted steel is fine. Avoid 14/14.5/16.5" wheels. A spare is nice, but you can pick up a bolt on spare bracket and a spare wheel-tire after the fact

Used is fine; but consider the cost for 4 tires, lights, deck, and many used ones stop being the "deal" they look like.View attachment 3651589

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm definitely not arguing that.

Yet I've sold more of them in the past few years than I have bought. And it doesn't bother me if the trailer is larger/more capable than it needs to be. Sometimes it's just right, even if the load weighs way less than what the trailer can support.View attachment 3651588

I have to borrow the Super Duty when I’m towing near max on all my 2 axle trailers…

Even being my 3/4 ton Chevrolet is rated it is also gutless with a 305 and weighs in close to max GVW as a service truck.

Totally different with the Super Duty… gooseneck, loaded dump, PJ with the dozer no problem…

 

[Too many Kubotas]

That Ram 3500 is the only thing I tow with, even if it's only five empty 325 gallon totes.

So far it has never been "too much tow vehicle". But it is marginal with 25K behind it.

 

[ultrarunner]

That Ram 3500 is the only thing I tow with, even if it's only five empty 325 gallon totes.

So far it has never been "too much tow vehicle". But it is marginal with 25K behind it.

Most of my towing is residential property maintenance in urban city settings… most locations I would never be able to legally park or even find a place to park in a dense city with 25 and 40’ wide lots..

My BX is a real work saver for tight spots for sewer and drainage work… stepside pickup and smaller trailer make a good combination.

 

[paulsharvey]

This is what I tried to upload above; 6.4 ft x 14ft, aluminum, 3500# axle; and the trailer is Light. This would do what the OP needs, it's just kinda closer than I would choose to purchase for the task.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

My BX is a real work saver for tight spots for sewer and drainage work… stepside pickup and smaller trailer make a good combination.

Sounds like a small rollback would be nearly ideal for you.

I've always wanted one, but it's easier to use one tow vehicle and trailers.

 

[WinterDeere]

This is what I tried to upload above; 6.4 ft x 14ft, aluminum, 3500# axle; and the trailer is Light. This would do what the OP needs, it's just kinda closer than I would choose to purchase for the task.View attachment 3651611

The other nice thing about choosing something small and light is that you can use the tractor to pull the trailer around the yard, when doing things like tree and shrub trimming. Then if your disposal is off-site, you can hook the trailer to your truck to haul it all to the mulch facility.

We burn most of our trimmings, but I do make at least one or two big trips to the mulch facility per year, and this is exactly how I manage it with my 7000# trailer and larger CUT. If I had a 10k# trailer, I don't think I'd want to be doing grassy hills with it on my CUT, at least without adding a brake controller to the CUT.

Another advantage of keeping the trailer light, depending on your state laws, you may not need brakes. That means you won't need to haul it to an inspection facility, leave it there three days and pay $150 for a 120 seconds inspection every year, before driving back to pick it up and haul it home. Trailer inspections are a PITA, and 3x the cost of a car inspection, at least around here.

 

[paulsharvey]

The other nice thing about choosing something small and light is that you can use the tractor to pull the trailer around the yard, when doing things like tree and shrub trimming. Then if your disposal is off-site, you can hook the trailer to your truck to haul it all to the mulch facility.

We burn most of our trimmings, but I do make at least one or two big trips to the mulch facility per year, and this is exactly how I manage it with my 7000# trailer and larger CUT. If I had a 10k# trailer, I don't think I'd want to be doing grassy hills with it on my CUT, at least without adding a brake controller to the CUT.

Another advantage of keeping the trailer light, depending on your state laws, you may not need brakes. That means you won't need to haul it to an inspection facility, leave it there three days and pay $150 for a 120 seconds inspection every year, before driving back to pick it up and haul it home. Trailer inspections are a PITA, and 3x the cost of a car inspection, at least around here.

Wow, we dont even do an inspection when you home make a new trailer, just certified weight ticket.

 

[mjonesnh]

The other nice thing about choosing something small and light is that you can use the tractor to pull the trailer around the yard, when doing things like tree and shrub trimming. Then if your disposal is off-site, you can hook the trailer to your truck to haul it all to the mulch facility.

We burn most of our trimmings, but I do make at least one or two big trips to the mulch facility per year, and this is exactly how I manage it with my 7000# trailer and larger CUT. If I had a 10k# trailer, I don't think I'd want to be doing grassy hills with it on my CUT, at least without adding a brake controller to the CUT.

Another advantage of keeping the trailer light, depending on your state laws, you may not need brakes. That means you won't need to haul it to an inspection facility, leave it there three days and pay $150 for a 120 seconds inspection every year, before driving back to pick it up and haul it home. Trailer inspections are a PITA, and 3x the cost of a car inspection, at least around here.

No inspections in TN. Trailers for private use do not require registration or tags.

 

[WinterDeere]

Let me re-quote myself:

Another advantage of keeping the trailer light, depending on your state laws...

I know some states don't even require yearly inspection on passenger cars, which just seems crazy dangerous given the high fraction of complete mechanical-imbeciles behind the wheel on any given highway, but there you have it!

 

[KennyG]

Let me re-quote myself:



I know some states don't even require yearly inspection on passenger cars, which just seems crazy dangerous given the high fraction of complete mechanical-imbeciles behind the wheel on any given highway, but there you have it!

I once lived in a state that required inspection and never want to again. They didn't really care if your car was safe or not, they just wanted to charge you to adjust the headlights. It seemed strange to me that the headlights needed adjusted every year.

 

[WinterDeere]

I once lived in a state that required inspection and never want to again. They didn't really care if your car was safe or not, they just wanted to charge you to adjust the headlights. It seemed strange to me that the headlights needed adjusted every year.

Never experienced that here. They will usually try to sell you an air cleaner or oil change, but the main point of inspection is brakes and tires. They pull all four wheels, measure and report rotor and pad thickness on the inspection report, as well as average tread depth on each tire.

We also have emissions testing, if you're in one of the counties immediately surrounding Philadelphia. But that's a whole other matter. Most of our state does not have emissions testing, as long as inspector signs off that all OEM emissions equipment is still present and connected.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I know some states don't even require yearly inspection on passenger cars, which just seems crazy dangerous given the high fraction of complete mechanical-imbeciles behind the wheel on any given highway, but there you have it!

Used to very strict annual inspections, before arriving in the USA I expected the road sides littered with broken down vehicles here. Surely all those wide aftermarket wheels, engine swaps, etc. must be devastating.

Well, as it turned out, I saw maybe 80% fewer broken down cars than I was used to.

 

[ultrarunner]

Never experienced that here. They will usually try to sell you an air cleaner or oil change, but the main point of inspection is brakes and tires. They pull all four wheels, measure and report rotor and pad thickness on the inspection report, as well as average tread depth on each tire.

We also have emissions testing, if you're in one of the counties immediately surrounding Philadelphia. But that's a whole other matter. Most of our state does not have emissions testing, as long as inspector signs off that all OEM emissions equipment is still present and connected.

There is a push now in California to start vehicle safety inspections now that the Feds have said no more California waiver for vehicle emission to a more stringent standard… we smog back to 1976.

Trailers would just add to the time list hauling to and from the station.

Not sure how the safety inspection would apply to Collector vehicles?

Would the inspector even know how to check the brakes or start the carbide generator to produce the gas for the headlight… let alone light it on my 1905 Oldsmobile?

 

[WinterDeere]

Not sure how the safety inspection would apply to Collector vehicles?

Our collectible/antique vehicles are generally plated as such, and usually exempt from safety and emissions inspections. They also get a huge break on insurance, but with all of that comes some restrictions on yearly and weekly mileage. The intent is that these be vehicles used for weekend enjoyment, or the occasional special road trip or event, but not as daily commuters.

I believe most antique or collectible vehicles get a one-time safety approval, with owner assist when they are first (re)badged with antique plates, but never get checked again after that.

 

[WM75Guy]

To the OP: If you haven't bought a trailer U-Haul now rents a 16' 10,000# utility trailer, if your vehicle can tow it. Here is the thread I started on it.

U-Haul 16' 10,000# Toy Hauler Utility Trailer Now Available.

Vehicle and trailer inspections are no longer required in Texas, as of January 1, 2025. Emissions tests are still required in 17 of the largest counties. But I still have to pay the fee when I register my vehicles, that didn't go away.